Northampton trio Jamie Elliot, Ben Nutley and Mike Haywood have signed professional contracts with the Premiership club.

The promising trio have signed deals after progressing into the first-team squad from the club's senior academy squad. Elliot and Nutley are both part of England's under-20 squad.

Elliot, 19, burst on to the scene last season with two tries in his first two Aviva Premiership matches against Sale Sharks and London Irish. And he recently starred for the Saints in their Heineken Cup victory over Castres.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder says securing the trio on permanent deals at Franklin's Gardens was central to the club's philosophy of promoting local talent.

"Players like Jamie, Ben and Mike are the future lifeblood of Northampton Saints," he said. "It is always good to have players in the squad who the fans can see as being their own having watched their development over a number of years.

"All three have shown that they are ready for first-team rugby and have the quality to be able to compete at the highest levels of the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup."